Long Slow Run

After the Tower of Terror it was hard to get back into it.  I am not sure why.  I definitely have something I need to train for.  It just seemed difficult mentally to want to run.

But I did it.  And today I completed my long run of 15 miles.  At about mile 7 I was really thinking of just doing 11.  But then somehow I got through it.  It is all mental.  I had to keep reminding myself of that, I was getting bored but my legs and breathing were feeling good.  I am so happy I finished all 15 miles!

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	2:25:16.5	15.00	9:41
1	9:55.0	1.00	9:55
2	9:30.6	1.00	9:31
3	9:41.9	1.00	9:42
4	9:35.6	1.00	9:36
5	9:33.8	1.00	9:34
6	9:37.4	1.00	9:37
7	9:46.3	1.00	9:46
8	9:50.9	1.00	9:51
9	9:48.6	1.00	9:49
10	9:50.5	1.00	9:51
11	9:50.6	1.00	9:51
12	9:44.0	1.00	9:44
13	9:49.6	1.00	9:50
14	9:38.1	1.00	9:38
15	9:02.1	1.00	9:02
16	:01.6	0.00	7:01

I am happy with my times, I was not paying attention to my pace, just trying to stay slow and easy.  I love the fact that my final pace was at 9:02.  Next time I may try to focus to get the last two miles at race pace, which I am thinking (hoping) is around 9:09.

So, all in all, my week looked like this: (we start on Tuesday as that is my work week... makes sense to me)

Tuesday: rest

Wednesday: 3 miles
This run was tough and slow.  I even had to walk some of it.  I kept thinking how is it possible I ran 10 miles on Saturday, now I can barely run 3?  My legs were still tired, and I am glad I went for the run, it was tough but I still felt great after it.

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	30:30.7	3.00	10:10
1	9:40.2	1.00	9:40
2	10:57.4	1.00	10:57
3	9:51.5	1.00	9:52
4	:01.6	0.00	9:07

Thursday: 3 miles
Thursday was much better.

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	27:02.1	3.11	8:42
1	9:32.1	1.00	9:32
2	8:44.0	1.00	8:44
3	8:02.5	1.00	8:03
4	:43.5	0.11	6:50

Friday: casual bike ride
To Starbucks, with the Husband - great afternoon.

Saturday: 5 miles

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	45:14.1	5.00	9:02
1	9:13.0	1.00	9:13
2	9:15.2	1.00	9:15
3	9:09.1	1.00	9:09
4	8:59.1	1.00	8:59
5	8:35.8	1.00	8:36
6	:01.9	0.00	7:00

Sunday: 5 miles
Another 5 miles, this one I ended up at Starbucks to meet the Husband and the Dog for breakfast.

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	44:56.8	5.01	8:59
1	9:10.2	1.00	9:10
2	8:59.9	1.00	8:59
3	9:05.9	1.00	9:06
4	8:54.4	1.00	8:54
5	8:45.1	1.00	8:45
6	:01.4	0.01	4:33

Monday: 15 miles
After my two 5 mile runs I know I can manage the first three quarters of the Dopey.  I pretty much just did them!  After my run I grabbed a chocolate milk from 7-11, then had myself an quick ice bath.  Very interesting!  My legs are now resting in compression socks, so hopefully tomorrow they feel good as new!

Tower of Terror 10 Miler

What a great weekend.I ran in the Tower of Terror 10 Miler at Walt Disney World.  I did it last year, so I had to do it again to try and beat my time.  I had a goal, and achieved it.  It was tough, it was hot, and the week before my foot was hurting.   

I had hurt my foot on Monday, stopped running and tried to rest.  I was so scared of hurting myself and not being able to run the race on the weekend.  So, instead of being fully prepared, I was worried that whole week beforehand.  Up to the race the arch of my foot was still sore, and every now and then I would feel a dull-ish pain.  When I started the 10 Miler it was ok, by the end not a problem.  And now, two days after the run, I have had no issues with it.  I'm am thinking that it just needed to be stretched out by running on it during the week.  Better to be safe than sorry though!!

With some of my co-workers.

I got to meet up with some of my fellow co-workers.  Great bunch of people to relax with before the race!  At least with my foot problems I wasn't expecting much.  I wanted to beat my time from last year, but if my foot was a problem I didn't mind.  I smashed that goal by about 4 minutes!  I broke my original goal of completing it sub 1:30:00!!  I came in 1:29:23.

Look at that speed!  At the finish line.

The next morning I woke up to check the race results, and to my surprise my time put me in at 30th in my age group, out of over 1000 other women.  I am very happy with that!  I know I can run faster if I put in the work too.  This motivates me to keep on going - I'm achieving more than I every thought I could.

We stayed up at Disney's Coronado Springs for two nights, and the Dog was lucky enough to stay at his very own hotel.  We visited him during his stay, and he seemed to be having fun.

All ears!

And, for the record, my splits:

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	1:29:28.0	10.04	8:55
1	9:23.2	1.00	9:23
2	8:50.5	1.00	8:51
3	8:42.0	1.00	8:42
4	8:38.5	1.00	8:39
5	8:45.6	1.00	8:46
6	8:40.4	1.00	8:40
7	9:02.4	1.00	9:02
8	9:02.6	1.00	9:03
9	9:04.9	1.00	9:05
10	9:01.0	1.00	9:01
11	:16.9	0.04	6:51

Like I said, I started out good, then around mile 6 it got tough for me.  I am still very pleased with my results, and I want to keep improving!  Next time all splits will be in the 8 minuted range!!